Nutrition Education in U.S. Medical Schools

摘要

A committee of the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Research Council/National Academy of Sciences has concluded that even though diet has been shown to have a substantial effect on the risk of cancer, heart disease and other chronic conditions, doctors receive largely inadequate instruction in diet and nutrition during medical school. To gather information to assist them in their evaluation, the committee reviewed results of previous surveys and reports on the subject, consulted with nutrition program directors at selected medical schools, reviewed nutrition-related questions on National Board Examinations and conducted an independent survey of approximately 1/3 of U.S. medical schools. The committee found that an average of 21 hours of nutrition instruction is provided; however, 60% of the schools surveyed offer less than 20 hours and 20% teach less than 10 hours. The scope of the subject matter was found to be quite variable and administrative and institutional support for the subject was lacking.